Numbers 16

1 Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted

2 a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly.

3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.

5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.

6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do as follows: Take censers,

7 and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you sons of Levi!

9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

10 He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.

11 Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! As for Aaron, who is he that you should grumble against him?”

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!

13 Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?

14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”

15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”

16 And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.

17 Each man is to take his censer, place incense in it, and present it before the LORD—250 censers. You and Aaron are to present your censers as well.”

18 So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

19 When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.

20 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

21 “Separate yourselves from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.”

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”

23 Then the LORD said to Moses,

24 “Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

25 So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he warned the congregation, “Move away now from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

27 So they moved away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out and stood at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children and infants.

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for it was not my own doing:

29 If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me.

30 But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”

31 As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open,

32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

33 They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

34 At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!”

35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

36 Then the LORD said to Moses,

37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames and to scatter the coals far away, because the censers are holy.

38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,

40 just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

41 The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!”

42 But when the congregation gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting,

44 and the LORD said to Moses,

45 “Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown.

46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”

47 So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people.

48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.

49 But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who had died on account of Korah.

50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, since the plague had been halted.

1 ¶ Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:

2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

4 And when Moses heard [it], he fell upon his face:

5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be [that] the man whom the LORD doth choose, he [shall be] holy: [ye take] too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

9 [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

10 And he hath brought thee near [to him], and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

11 For which cause [both] thou and all thy company [are] gathered together against the LORD: and what [is] Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12 ¶ And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

13 [Is it] a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each [of you] his censer.

18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

23 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind.

29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; [then] the LORD hath not sent me.

30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them:

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods.

33 They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34 And all Israel that [were] round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up [also].

35 ¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates [for] a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad [plates for] a covering of the altar:

40 [To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which [is] not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

41 ¶ But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

1 And Korah the son of Jezehar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan, and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, the sons of Reuben,

2 They rebelled against Moses, and certain men of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty of the chief of the congregation, captains of the council, and honest men.

3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said unto them: Ye do too much! For all the congregation everywhere are holy, and the LORD is among them: wherefore exalt ye yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

4 And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.

5 And he said unto Korah, and unto all his company, To morrow the LORD will shew who is his, who is holy, and who shall offer unto him: whom he shall choose, he shall offer unto him.

6 This do: Take ye pans, Korah, and all his company,

7 And put fire therein, and put incense thereon before the LORD in the morning. Whom the LORD shall choose, let him be holy. Ye do too much, O children of Levi.

8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear now, ye children of Levi.

9 Is it not enough for you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, that ye should sacrifice unto him, to minister in the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to come before the congregation to minister unto them?

10 He hath taken thee and all thy brethren the children of Levi unto himself with thee; and now ye also seek the priesthood.

11 Thou and all thy company make a rebellion against the LORD. What is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12 And Moses sent and called Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said: We will not come up.

13 Is it not enough that thou hast brought us out of the land that floweth with milk and honey, that thou hast slain us in the wilderness? And thou hast to reign over us?

14 How goodly hast thou brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, and hast given us fields and vineyards for an inheritance! Wilt thou pluck out the eyes of the people also? We will not come up.

15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Turn not unto their meat offering. I have not taken an ass from them, neither have I ever harmed any of them.

16 And he said unto Korah, Thou and all thy company shall be before the LORD to morrow; thou, and they, and Aaron.

17 And take every man his pan, and put incense thereon, and come near before the LORD every man with his pan, even two hundred and fifty pans.

18 And every man took his pan, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and Moses and Aaron also.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation together against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the glory of the LORD appeared before all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying:

21 Separate yourselves from this congregation, that I may destroy them suddenly.

22 And they fell on their faces, and said: O God, who art a God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man have sinned, wilt thou therefore rage against all the congregation?

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying:

24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Depart ye round about from the tabernacle of Korah, and from the tabernacle of Dathan, and from the tabernacle of Abiram.

25 And Moses arose, and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart from the tabernacles of these ungodly men, and touch nothing that is theirs, lest peradventure ye perish in any of their sins.

27 And they went up from the tabernacle of Korah, and Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, and their sons, and their children.

28 And Moses said, By this ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works, and not of mine own heart:

29 If they die as all men die, or are afflicted as all men are afflicted, the LORD hath not sent me.

30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up with all that they have, that they may go down alive into hell; then ye shall know that these men have blasphemed the LORD.

31 And when he had uttered all these words, the earth rent beneath them;

32 And she opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the people that were with Korah, and all their substance.

33 And they went down alive into hell with all that they had, and the earth covered them, and they perished out of the congregation.

34 And all Israel that were round about them fled from their cry: for they said: Lest the earth swallow us up also!

35 And the fire went out from the LORD, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.

36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying:

37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the pans out of the fire, and scatter the fire to and fro.

38 For the pans of such sinners are sanctified by their souls, to be beaten into broad plates, and to hang the altar therewith: for they are offered before the LORD, and sanctified, and shall be for a sign unto the children of Israel.

39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen pans which the burnt offering had offered, and smote them into plates to hang upon the altar,

40 In remembrance of the children of Israel, lest any stranger come near, which is not of the seed of Aaron, to offer incense before the LORD, lest he be like Korah and his band, as the LORD spake unto him by the hand of Moses.

41 And the next morning all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying: Ye have killed the LORD'S people.

42 And when the congregation was gathered together against Moses and Aaron, they turned unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 And Moses and Aaron went in unto the tabernacle of the congregation.

44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying:

45 Arise out of this congregation, and I will destroy them suddenly. And they fell on their faces.

46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take the pan, and put fire therein from the altar, and put incense thereon, and go in haste unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for the fury is gone out from the LORD, and the plague is begun.

47 And Aaron took as Moses had said unto him, and ran into the midst of the congregation, (and, behold, the plague was begun among the people,) and burned incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48 And stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stayed.

49 And of them that died in the plague there were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died with Korah.

50 And Aaron came again unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the plague was stayed.